Jordan River Utah Temple

In October 2008 I visited all thirteen Utah temples. It was then that almost all of the photographs were taken that appear in this series of posts. To download a photograph click on the image to obtain the full resolution of 3264 x 2448 pixels with a file size of 3 to 4Mb.

The Jordan River temple entrance

One of five temples featuring an angel Moroni statue holding the gold plates

Jordan River Utah Temple Facts

Announced: 3 February 1978.Site: 15 acres.Exterior finish: Cast stone containing white marble chips. The tower appears the same as the rest of the building, but to reduce weight it contains fiberglass in a product called cemlite.Temple design: Modern.Rooms: Baptistry, celestial room, six endowment rooms, 17 sealing rooms.Total floor area: 148,236 square feet.Dimensions: Basement and main floor, 211 feet by 218 feet; two upper levels, 140 by 166 feet. Height to square is 58 feet, to top of tower, 219 feet, including a 20-foot statue of the Angel Moroni.Groundbreaking, site dedication: 9 June 1979, by President Spencer W. Kimball.Dedication: 16-20 November 1981, by President Marion G. Romney.

The temple was the seventh temple built in Utah and the second built in the Salt Lake Valley

Jordan River Utah Temple Impressions

This is the first time I have been inside the temple. The temple seemed to me to be a super-sized version of the Ogden temple. There were more rooms and they were bigger except for the celestial room which was smaller compared to the cathedral-like Bountiful temple celestial room. If you zoom in on the photograph of the angel Moroni, you will see that he is holding the gold plates.

The Jordan River temple is so close to the Oquirrh Mountain temple that I got them crossed while navigating with Google Maps. After I figured out that a darkened, half built temple with scaffolding was not the Jordan River temple I looked around for a lit temple. South Jordan is the only city in the world with two temples.

The temple was the only temple dedicated by President Marion G. Romney

Only three other temples have six ordinance rooms: Ogden, Provo, and Washington D.C.

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Who is this Rickety?

I'm Rick Willoughby. I live in Utah, a retired Software Engineer. I'm a Mormon, married with 5 children and 12 grandchildren.

I emigrated from England in my late twenties, bringing with me one small suitcase and a few dollars. I appreciate the opportunities America has given me and the friendliness of the people to new citizens.

I blog about my family as well as politics, religion, finance, technology, and other topics.